Millefiori Simply Marvellous

Under a beautiful ride by Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar (a2), Millefiori (4 m Iffraaj - Miss Bluebell, by Savabeel) won the $35,000 Cartown Open Handicap 1100 metres on Saturday at Awapuni.

Given time (48 days) since fighting solidly for sixth on Heavy10 in the Anzac Mile (Listed, 1600m) on the same course in April, and running on well for second when trialling in the interim on 26 May at Waipa, Millefiori had weight relief to 52.5kg and shaped to race well in a small but select field.

Tucked in behind the leaders, she seized on a gap 300m out, quickened appreciably to arrest the lead, and was soft late after parcelling things up. 

Parmar had also won the previous race aboard Hot Shockolate (Shocking) and made it three in a week for the stable after scoring aboard Freeze Frame (Vadamos) last Saturday at Avondale, and Polly Plum (Xtravagant) midweek at Matamata. 

It was a really good win by the mare that won her first two starts as a two-year-old and returned to her best to win three times this season. As horses often do, Millefiori has peaked at a similar time after winning on 8 June last year at Matamata. 

In March at Tauranga, Millefiori made it three wins from four course attempts, and trainer Mark Walker has her earmarked for a return visit in the $65,000 Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (Listed, 1400m) on Saturday 24 June. 

“It was a really nice win, lovely ride by Parmar, and sets her up for a stakes' race in a fortnight at Tauranga,” Walker said.

“She's always been stakes' calibre, she is going well, and will get her chance to secure some valuable black type.”

By proven international stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), out of a young mare by eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Millefiori is from the family of Winx (Street Cry) and therefore a very valuable filly.

Her grand-dam, Operavega (Stravinsky), is a half-sister to impressive winner Vegas Showgirl (Al Akbar), who stakes' claim to being mother of the undisputable all-time champion Winx - world record holder with 25 Group One victories. 

Owned by the Te Akau Millefiori Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $65,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Archer Park, and now won six times. 

“It was a really exciting win and she'll go into the Tauranga Classic in top form now,” Ellis said.

“She's has a great group of owners, including Ben Masters (and his mother) and Tash McDonald who have a close relationship working with us and who are also getting married next year. They really love Milliefiori, who we know as 'Saffie'.

“Parmar is riding really confidently and it's great to see the Te Akau apprentices doing so well. He's a tall, willowy yo9ung man, Parmar, who uses the stick in left hand and he's well balanced. He's also got a great attitude and the right demeanour for being a jockey.

“It was win number 188 for the stable this season. What an incredible effort from the whole team and it just leaves Karyn and me so proud of them all. And not just the team at Matamata, but the team here on the farm at Te Akau Stud who have simply done an amazing job looking after all the horses.”

Ellis also commented about the recent purchase of three-year-old filly Wolverine (Tivaci) from the Gold Coast Sale in May, acquired as a racing and breeding proposition.

“We've only got one share remaining and she has flourished since being here on the farm,” he said. “She's spelling in the paddock and we're very excited about her for next season. 

“She won the Eclipse Stakes and the Wakefield Stakes here last season and took on the best in Sydney and finished third in the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick. She stakes' placed another five times over there, up to a mile, and we plan on taking her to Melbourne for some nice Group One races.”

Millefiori was strapped by Cooper Stumbles. 

“Cooper is a young man who has a big future with us and we can't wait until he starts riding at the trials,” Ellis said. “He puts everything into it and loves being involved.”

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz